John M. Zelenski is a Professor of Psychology at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada where he has lived and worked for the last 20 years. He completed psychology degrees at Northwestern University (B.A.), the University of Michigan (M.A.), and Washington University in St. Louis (Ph.D.). As a researcher and director of the Carleton University Happiness Laboratory (CUHL), he studies individual differences in happiness, and how personality manifests itself 'in the moment' as emotional and cognitive processes. His research has long focused on the causes and consequences of extraverted behaviour. Recently, more research has focused on the well-being benefits of interacting with nature, how people form subjective connections with nature, and how these are associated with pro-social and sustainable behaviours. It is not a coincidence that he increasingly derives happiness from gardening, birding, kayaking, camping, fishing, or merely strolling in nature. As an educator, Dr. Zelenski has taught courses on personality, research methods, and positive psychology at Carleton and 'around the world' as part of the Semester at Sea program, consistently earning positive student evaluations. Dr. Zelenski recently published a textbook, Positive Psychology: The Science of Well-Being (SAGE Publishing). More information available at his web page: https://carleton.ca/happinesslab/dr-zelenski/

Holli-Anne Passmore, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE) in Alberta, Canada. She is also Director of the multi-university Nature-Meaning in Life (NMIL) Research Lab, an editor of the International Journal of Wellbeing, an invited academic with the Global Wellbeing Initiative, and a member of the Scientific Committee of the International Meaning Events & Community (IMEC) organization. Her academic research articles and book chapters have been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals and publications, and featured in various media and podcasts. Holli-Anne collaborates with colleagues from around the globe on a number of well-being-based research endeavours. A primary focus of her work is the development and validation of practical interventions to enhance well-being through noticing and engaging with everyday nature close to home. Holli-Anne is passionate about both her research and her teaching. She has developed upper-level undergraduate courses such as Nature & Wellbeing, and the Psychology of Meaning in Life. Not surprisingly, Holli-Anne loves spending time in nature, be that the rivervalley in her hometown of Edmonton, or her favourite place in the world, the mountains of Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada. website: https://nature-mill.org email: Holli-Anne.Passmore@concordia.ab.ca

My name is kelley Bird-Naytowhow I am of Cree decent. I am from Sturgeon Lake, Montreal Lake, First Nation. I am passionate to walk alongside youth and learn from them. My passion comes from a place of being open minded that serves the people. One thought that I work with is the thought that every day we are catching up to be human and learning about that process.

Dr. Thomas Doherty is a Clinical and Environmental Psychologist based in Portland, Oregon who has a specialty addressing people’s concerns about environmental issues and climate change. His multiple publications on nature and mental health include the groundbreaking paper “The Psychological Impacts of Global Climate Change,” co-authored by Susan Clayton, cited over 800 times. Thomas is a fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA), Past President of the APA Div. 34 Society for Environmental, Population and Conservation Psychology, and Founding Editor of the academic journal Ecopsychology. Thomas Doherty has provided workshops and training for the US National Park Service, the New Zealand Department of Conservation, National Renewable Energy Lab, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Oregon Department of Health, and Stanford University Health Services. Thomas Doherty’s work has been featured in publications like the New York Times. He also co-hosts the Climate Change and Happiness podcast. Thomas is originally from Buffalo, New York. You can learn more about Thomas Doherty at his website (www.selfsustain.com).

Louise Chawla is Professor Emeritus in the Environmental Design Program at the University of Colorado Boulder, and an active member of the university’s Community Engagement, Design and Research Center. She serves on the Scientific Advisory Council of the Children and Nature Network, and the Steering Committee of Growing Up Boulder, a program that involves children and teens in city planning and design. Her research and publications focus on children and nature, children in cities, and the development of committed action for the environment. One of her current areas of focus is how to support young people to enable them to address the environmental challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.